]]>2016-07-29T13:25:44-04:002016-07-29T13:25:44-04:00http://www.lionbacker.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17841&p=254904#p254904I'm an emoticon junky. I use them so people know I'm joking and not a (total) dumba$$!

So a year has passed in my new pursuit, been a really fun year and very cool to see a new league from the inception to 12 months later. Here is an article that gives some updates on the league a new owners...

Dallas Morning News wrote:

Source: Mark Cuban isn't the only big-name investor in futsal; other NBA owners, prestigious soccer clubs have joined in

Last week's announcement that Mark Cuban had become a principal owner of a new North American league for a sport called "futsal" heightened buzz about the venture.

As in, "Maybe this league is going to be a bigger deal than many imagined."

Indeed, a source told The Dallas Morning News on Monday that the 16-team Professional Futsal League franchisees include "multiple" NBA owners and some of the world's most prestigious soccer clubs.

In other words, it will be a marriage of soccer and basketball, which is how many describe Futsal, which is five-per-side indoor soccer, the only one sanctioned by FIFA.

The NBA owners include Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov and the Buss family, which owns the Los Angeles Lakers.

World-power soccer clubs that have committed to full or partial franchise stakes include FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Boca Juniors of Argentina and Corinthians of Brazil.

And though futsal is played in 198 of the 207 FIFA member associations around the world, the Professional Futsal League is being planned as the world's most preeminent, with the top players being funneled here and receiving the sport's highest salaries.

Although the league doesn't plan to begin play until 2017, early details of its proposed structure emerged Monday evening because representatives from the 16 franchises and officials from soccer clubs in Europe, South America and China are scheduled to meet Tuesday and Wednesday in Dallas.

Why Dallas? It was in North Texas where plans for the league began to hatch during the spring of 2014, with Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson and sports entrepreneur Brian Dick ultimately becoming principal league owners (joined Feb. 3 by Cuban) and Nelson's daughter, Christie, becoming executive director.

Along with Dallas, cities that will have franchises include New York, Los Angeles, Seattle/Vancouver, Boston, Chicago, Miami and Orlando.

We just wrapped up our first ownership meeting today and it's been so crazy, I find myself riding to the American Airlines Center in a Hummer Limo sitting with Jerry Buss (our LA owner), very down to earth guy. Eating dinner with guys from FC Barcelona. Next I'm in Cuban's (my new bosses) personal suite (basically a man cave next to the locker room) exchanging jokes with Pudge Rodriguez (our Miami owner) who surprisingly is shorter than me and one of the nicest jocks I've ever meet.

What a crazy ride so far, I hope everyone one day gets to follow their passion...

Source: Mark Cuban isn't the only big-name investor in futsal; other NBA owners, prestigious soccer clubs have joined in

Last week's announcement that Mark Cuban had become a principal owner of a new North American league for a sport called "futsal" heightened buzz about the venture.

As in, "Maybe this league is going to be a bigger deal than many imagined."

Indeed, a source told The Dallas Morning News on Monday that the 16-team Professional Futsal League franchisees include "multiple" NBA owners and some of the world's most prestigious soccer clubs.

In other words, it will be a marriage of soccer and basketball, which is how many describe Futsal, which is five-per-side indoor soccer, the only one sanctioned by FIFA.

The NBA owners include Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov and the Buss family, which owns the Los Angeles Lakers.

World-power soccer clubs that have committed to full or partial franchise stakes include FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Boca Juniors of Argentina and Corinthians of Brazil.

And though futsal is played in 198 of the 207 FIFA member associations around the world, the Professional Futsal League is being planned as the world's most preeminent, with the top players being funneled here and receiving the sport's highest salaries.

Although the league doesn't plan to begin play until 2017, early details of its proposed structure emerged Monday evening because representatives from the 16 franchises and officials from soccer clubs in Europe, South America and China are scheduled to meet Tuesday and Wednesday in Dallas.

Why Dallas? It was in North Texas where plans for the league began to hatch during the spring of 2014, with Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson and sports entrepreneur Brian Dick ultimately becoming principal league owners (joined Feb. 3 by Cuban) and Nelson's daughter, Christie, becoming executive director.

Along with Dallas, cities that will have franchises include New York, Los Angeles, Seattle/Vancouver, Boston, Chicago, Miami and Orlando.

We just wrapped up our first ownership meeting today and it's been so crazy, I find myself riding to the American Airlines Center in a Hummer Limo sitting with Jerry Buss (our LA owner), very down to earth guy. Eating dinner with guys from FC Barcelona. Next I'm in Cuban's (my new bosses) personal suite (basically a man cave next to the locker room) exchanging jokes with Pudge Rodriguez (our Miami owner) who surprisingly is shorter than me and one of the nicest jocks I've ever meet.

What a crazy ride so far, I hope everyone one day gets to follow their passion...